Munich Travel Guide
What do you think of when you think of Munich? Atmospheric beer halls? Vegan terrifying bratwurst sausages? Insanely beautiful german women dressed in dirndls who still feel guilty about the war so they repay you in sexual favours? Yeah me too…but after going to Munich, I found out that 2 out of 3 are actually true, I’ll let you decide which two.
Germany is an exceptionally beautiful country to visit and is one of my favourites in Europe, due to its spectacular castles, especially in the Bavarian region, gothic architecture in many of its famous cities and its uneventful & well behaved history. Munich itself is actually located in the southern part of Germany in the region of Bavaria which is the largest and most picturesque state in the whole of Germany.
Bavaria is one of those places you see advertised on Facebook all the time, similar to the untouched Maldives and the neutral Switzerland due to the stunning forest landscapes that surround many of its culturally rich towns and villages. Munich is actually the capital of Bavaria and is slap bang in the middle of the free state which makes it the perfect location to visit as you get the best of both worlds.
Munich, an incredible city filled to the brim with its uniquely exciting nightlife, mesmerising architecture and the birth place of one of the darkest periods in human history.
And then on the other hand, if you travel just 15 minutes outside of the city walls you are greeted to the stunning leafy terrain of the Bavarian countryside with its fairytale castles towering above the woodlands below, leather wearing, thigh slapping residents and a wide range of scenic mountains stretching as far as the eye can see. It truly is a travelgrammers dream.
Top Things To See & Do In Bavaria
- Marvel at the shy Kings Castle – Neuschwanstein Castle.Come do the polar opposite of what King Ludwig wanted by admiring his elegant overly decorated former residence.
- Hike The Bavarian Alps.The same as the Swiss Alps just more leather….and taxes.
- Visit the medieval Nuremberg castle. Rebuilt in the middle of the 20th century after heavy bombing during the Second World War.
- Stroll through the mythical town of Rothenburg. Hold hands and get frisky down the romantic road.
- Chill out at the Venus Grotto.Pull up a pew in King Ludwig man cave.
In the mild September of 2018 me and 7 of my closest friends (no that’s not a typo) descended upon the historical streets of Munich still heartbroken from the torture of the semi final exit at the 2018 World Cup. What would occur following this would be 3 days of intense beer drinking (day & night), a lot of lederhosen wearing to help us blend in with our German counterparts and hours upon hours of singing, dancing, vomiting and laughing. All helping manifest Munich into becoming one of the best cities I have ever had the courtesy of gracing for a long weekend. If it is just Oktoberfest you’re interested in check out my Oktoberfest Travel Guide here.
Accommodation
Another helpful tip and possibly the most important is to book early. Reason being is even though we booked over a year in advance for Oktoberfest, me and my friends still ended up staying further outside the city centre than we original planned, due to the low availability and the increase of price for city centre hotels/hostels/apartments.
Don’t get me wrong the Ibis Muenchen Garching was still a perfect home for the weekend. Only a measly 20 minute underground subway ride from the city centre the Ibis Muenchen Garching catered for all our needs. An elegant and stylish 24 hour bar which served possibly every Bavarian beer known to man all of which were sold at a size of your choice from half-pints to steins, comfy lining beds fantastic to lay on and watch the room spin around you, most importantly of all a perfectly timed breakfast buffet served from 4am to 12pm every morning which is brilliant for an after night-out snack.
Top Hotels in Munich
Top Hostels in Munich
- Wombat’s The City Hostel Munich
- Euro Youth Hotel
- Pension Wumtalhof
- Pension Lenz
- Hotel Gastehaus Englischer Garten
Top Apartments In Munich
- Munich Hauptbahnhof Apartment
- City Centre Apartment
- Oasis In The Heart Of Munich
- Deluxe Apartment Munich
- A1 Apartments Munich
Things to know before you go
What language do they speak in Munich? – German.
What currency do they use in Munich? – Euros
What’s the weather like? In winter it gets very cold and snows on the odd occasion and in summer it’s like any other European city but does have a chance of rain throughout.
Is Munich the capital of Germany? = No Berlin is but Munich is the capital of Bavaria so you were nearly right.
Food
Bavarian food isn’t one to be messed with, it’s the Arnold Schwarzenegger of the food world, it’s big, it’s meaty and its part Austrian. A Bavarian meal is artery clogging starters, slaughtered protein filled mains and creamy mouthwatering desserts all washed down with a liquid presented to you in a glass the size of Thors hammer.
As a massive meat lover (not in that way) Munich had me salivating throughout the trip. Bratwurst sausageshanging in nearly every window, the smell of schnitzel weaving through the cobble streets and monstrous sized pretzels being sold at every street corner.
No where else in the world does meat like the Germans not even you America so sit down. Every meal was just so tasty and cooked to perfection, at no stage was there ever a meal I wouldn’t give a 10/10. Even the side dishes like Himmel und Erde which is just mashed potatoes and apple sauce were orgasmic you never wanted it to end.
My personal choice for the best restaurant I visited while in Munich was the Paulaner Im Tal. The Paulaner Im Tal is a fantastic restaurant with 18th century Bavarian decor which along with the out of this world food makes it a true Bavarian experience from start to finish. The waiters can’t do enough for you, its in the perfect location right next door to the number one landmark in Munich the Marienplatz and the house beer of Paulaner is one of the best in the whole of Bavaria and possible the world, all of which is served in a vanished wood polished brass stained glass. If you are a foodie this place has to be number one to try.
Best Place’s To Get Breakfast In Munich
Best Place’s To Get Lunch In Munich
Best Place’s To Get Dinner In Munich
Daytime In Munich
Steering away from Oktoberfest and diving more into Munich itself there is an endless list of activities to try and sights to see all dotted around this magnificent city. From the historical Marienplatz which towers proudly over the main city square since 1158 AD to the stunning and mesmerising colours of Munich’s home of football the Allianz Arena.
However if you do want to try an activity which is extremely unique to Munich then don’t forget to bring your surf board as head down to the Eisbach in the city centre. Even though Munich itself is landlocked, since the 1970s residents of Munich have flocked to the old channel of the Isar river to test their nerve on the dangerous waves which flow throughout the “English Garden”.
If you aren’t the experience surfer that you need to be to try this out then not to worry as there is a bridge which hoovers above the channel giving specular views of the surfers risking their lives below.
Other Top Things To Do During The Day In Munich
- Win Gold at the Olympiapark
- Drive Round The BMW Museum
- Walk The Fields Of The Dachau Concentration Camp
- Feel Like Royalty At The Nymphenburg Palace
- Grab A Pint At One Of The Many Munich Beer Gardens
Night-time In Munich
Night-time is when Munich really comes alive and hopefully so do you. Every building and monument in Munich are lit up with stunning cherry red spot lights, illuminating the picturesque, gothic skyline. The main square is thriving every night with all different types of vibrant life, from businessmen looking to de-stress after a long day, families out for a delicious traditional meal and finally the tourists who are out in full force looking to reap the rewards given to them by the unique and second to none nightlife Munich has to offer.
The Number one spot to go to every evening in Munich is the popular and memorable Hofbrauhaus. Founded in 1589 the Hofbrauhaus is Munich’s oldest beer hall with artistic Fresco walls and ceilings capturing stunning renaissance style imagines and architecture along with a mesmerising ballroom which features live bands and singers every night of the week. The Hofbrauhaus has hosted many house hold names under its roof since its unveiling in the 16th century including Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, John F Kennedy and the most controversial of all, Adolf Hitler who according to history books first pitched the concept of the Nazi Street Fighting Organisation from inside those famous, elegant walls.
Top 5 Beer Halls In Munich
Drinking In Munich
Obviously, you are going to Munich to drink you would be mad not to. Germany is famous for its drinking culture along with some other bad habits but you need to try at least one Bavarian beer while in Munich.
- A pint of draught beer – €5.50 = £4.50
- A stein of draught beer – €10.60 = £9.60
- A glass of wine – €7.50 = £6.50
If you have any questions regarding Munich or you are looking at venturing there yourself please drop me an email and we can build the perfect weekend together. adsventuresbookings@gmail.com
Check out my other travel guides here – destinations
What a great itinerary! The beautiful photos are of course very helpful 🙂
Thanks Kateryna. Glad you enjoyed it.
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I couldn’t refrain fro commenting. Veery well written!